Combining wires to get a higher ampicity??

[bimmer1980]

Is it ok to combine two wires together to obtain a higher total ampicity for a circuit?

Example, I'm planning to run #2 copper from my house main panel out to my future new garage. (yes, I'm running 2-hots a neutral and a ground in the conduit) However, at some point it might be nice to upgrade to a 200 amp service in the garage. Therefore, would it be possible to swap panels in the garage and a new meter base, then combine 2 #2's on one hot leg and the other two for the other hot leg and then pull a third wire for the nuetral? In this case, I would have the power company upgrade the service to a 400amp with the double lugs for the load side of the meter. Then I would have 200 amps for the house and 200 for the garage. Because it would now be a main panel rather than a subpanel, I would only need the 2-hots, and a neutral, correct?

I'm just trying to plan for the future........

Thoughts??

also it should be OK to have a juction box in the 2" conduit right before it enters the house to facilite this in the future, correct?

 

[fordcragar]

If you are thinking about redoing it later, why not do it the way you want it now; with the right stuff? Then you are done.

 

[bimmer1980]

I don't know that I absolutely need more than 100 amps... It would be nice, but to upgrade the electrical service is more hassle than I want to do right now.... It's not just a cost, it's the hassle... All of the feeder lines and meter socket would have to be upgraded. If I did all that, I would rather go underground, and that is more cost and headache that I don't need right now......

Hence, I would rather get my garage built and powered up and then upgrade a few years down the road.....

 

[bimmer1980]

oh yeah, and I already have the wire....... it was a snap decision a while ago because it was a good deal on craigslist.... at the time, it seemed like it would be the ticket......

 

[Charles (in GA)]

For your purposes, the code does not allow paralleling of cables/wires. Conductors 1/0 AWG and larger may be paralleled, but not smaller ones. Even at that, the paralleled conductors must be the exact same length, same material, same size in circular mil area, have the same insulation type, and be terminated in the same manner. NEC 310.4

Why bother?

Charles